Let’s talk about sex, again
In the 1980s and ’90s, we
Sex, however, isn’t mentioned
talked a lot about sex. We did
directly anywhere in the song.
this partly because we were
Thicke talked around sex with
young and partly because
metaphors and allusions. Saltof HIV/AIDS, but the mesn-Pepa and the folks in Brazil
sages were targeted at younger
talked about it directly.
people throughout.
Talking
For example, in
around sex is just as
1991, Salt-n-Pepa’s
problematic as not
“Let’s Talk About
talking about it at
Sex” brought to the
all. Talking around
forefront the discusit gives space to
sion of sex and of
misconceptions.
the importance of
These misconceptions can become
safer sex. They sang,
a breeding ground
“Let’s talk about all
for potentially
the good things and
unhealthy attitudes
the bad things that
toward sex. These
may be.” The video
misconceptions do
featured a cast of 20Rebecca not acknowledge
somethings.
In 2008, the sloRichman safety — both in the
gan, “Sex has no age.
physical and emotional senses. In fact,
Nor has protection,”
was introduced in Brazil as part despite decades of safer-sex
education, the rates of sexually
of a public-health campaign.
transmitted infections and of
The Brazilians were ahead of
the curve in acknowledging that sexual and domestic violence
are rising among older adults in
older people have just as active
the United States.
sex lives as younger people.
As a society, we are someIn the United States, the conversation about sex and older
what comfortable having
adults has barely made the
conversations about sex and
radar.
sexuality for and about young
In some contrast, Robin
people. We are much less
Thicke’s 2013 “Blurred Lines”
comfortable acknowledging the realities of the sexual
pushed boundaries with its
health and well-being of older
controversial lyrics about sex.

Gettin’ On

people. This discussion has
become even more important
as the aging population booms.
However, barriers exist to this
discussion actually occurring.
In many places around the
world, sex among older people
is viewed as taboo or shameful, especially in LGBT communities. Despite vast research
showing that people remain
sexually active into their elder
years, the majority of conversations about sex and sexuality
still remain focused on youth.
In fact, a study published in
the New England Journal of
Medicine noted that in the
United States, women between
the ages of 57-74 showed no
decline in sexual activity.
When it comes to research
and information on sex and
sexual health, one of the most
marginalized groups are older
women in the LGBT community. Currently, no guidelines
exist on preventative screenings
for bisexual and lesbian older
women. Doctors are not always
prepared to discuss these
screenings with older patients.
When they do discuss sex and
health, they often make incorrect assumptions about their
patients’ sexual orientation and
activities.
Older LGBT women may

feel just as uncomfortable talking about their sex lives with
their health-care providers. As
a result, older women are often
overlooked for what could be
life-saving tests — for themselves and their partners.
For transwomen, access to
appropriate health care is a
major concern: Many carry the
scars, both physical and mental,
of years of violence and discrimination. According to the
LGBT Elder Initiative’s Dawn
Munro, ”Discrimination and
cultural incompetence leading
to denial of needed screening
tests for prostate and breast
cancer, HIV and HEP is sadly
common, as is the lack of provision of mental-health services. This is abuse by neglect
and leads to anxiety and creates
a climate of distrust.”
Sexual health is a basic right.
The World Health Organization
defines sexual health as a state
of physical, mental and social
well-being in the sphere of sexuality. Intrinsic to the right of
sexual health is a positive and
respectful approach to sexuality and sexual relationships, as
well as the possibility of having sexual experiences that are
pleasurable and safe, free from
coercion, discrimination, violence and disease.

A change in the scope of
the conversation around sex is
necessary to ensure that people
of all ages receive appropriate
health services and the information necessary to maintain
the basic standard of sexual
health. On May 31, the LGBT
Elder Initiative will host
“LGBT Older Women’s Sexual
Health.” A panel of experts will
discuss the emotional, physical,
spiritual and pleasure aspects of
sex. For more information, contact the LGBTEI at 267-5463448.
In the practical and timeless
lyrics of Salt-n-Pepa: “Let’s tell
it how it is, and how it could
be/How it was, and of course,
how it should be.” ■
Rebecca Richman is a member
of the LGBT Elder Initiative
and is a paralegal wth the AIDS
Law Project of Pennsylvania.
The LGBTEI fosters and advocates for services, resources
and institutions that are culturally competent, inclusive
and responsive to the needs of
LGBT older adults. To comment
on this article, suggest topics
for future articles or for more
information, visit www.lgbtei.
org or call 267-546-3448 and
watch for “Gettin’ On” each
month in PGN.